PSA 377: Community Risk Reductions in EMS

Course Description

This is an upper-level baccalaureate course for students interested in learning about community risk reduction. The student will learn how EMS can play a role in reducing risk in their community. EMS is an intricate part of the community that it serves, and the student will learn about Risk Reduction Priorities, examine ways to ensure the Sustainability of CRR, plan for Special Situations and high-risk Communities, and lastly, examine ways to ensure the Sustainability of CRR. (3 credits)

Prerequisites

  • ENG 101: English Composition 1
  • ENG 102: English Composition 2

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

  1. Define the Role of Emergency Medical Services Organizations in Community Risk Reduction (CRR).
  2. Construct a Community Risk Assessment on various communities.
  3. Describe and explain Risk Reduction Priorities.
  4. Analyze the need for planning for Special Situations: High-Risk Communities.
  5. Explain and justify the need for program evaluation.
  6. Explore and examine ways to ensure Sustainability of CRR.
  7. Develop and formulate CRR Intervention Strategies based on a fictitious community.

Course Activities and Grading

AssignmentsWeight

Discussions (Weeks 1-5)

30%

Assignments (Weeks 1-4)

30%

Final Paper (Week 5)

40%

Total

100%

Required Textbooks

Available through Charter Oak State College's Book Bundle

  • Walker, Beverly E., Community Risk Reduction: Principles and Practice, 2022. Jones and Bartlett Learning, LLC.

Course Schedule

Week

SLOs

Readings and Exercises

Assignments

1

1-3

Topic: Developing a Community Risk Assessment (CRA)

  • Read and Review:
    • Read Chapters 1 - 4
    • Read document: Tempe Fire Medical Rescue Patient Advocate Services 
    • Review website: Got Risk?
    • Review website: Community paramedicine as EMS’s CRR program
  • Read assigned chapters and document
  • Review assigned websites
  • Review the Lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit the Week 1 Assignment
  • Begin formulating ideas for the Week 5 Final Paper

2

1-3

Topic: Developing a Community Risk Assessment (CRA) [Continued]

  • Read and Review:
    • Read Chapters 5, 6 and 7
    • Review website: Community Risk Assessment
    • Review website: Community Risk Reduction
    • Review website: Getting Started with CRR
  • Read assigned chapters
  • Review assigned websites
  • Review the Lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit the Week 2 Assignment
  • Begin formulating your outline for the Week 5 Final Paper

3

2,4

Topic: High-Risk Communities

  • Read and Review:
    • Read Chapters 8 and 9
    • Read article: Planning for an Emergency: Strategies for Identifying and Engaging At-Risk Groups
  • Read assigned chapters and article
  • Review the Lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit the Week 3 Assignment
  • Begin working on a rough draft of the Week 5 Final Paper

4

4

Topic: Equity and Implementation of a CRA

  • Read and Review:
    • Read Chapters 11 and 12
    • Read article: The importance of accounting for equity in disaster risk models
  • Read assigned chapters and article
  • Review the Lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit the Week 4 Assignment
  • Continue working on the Week 5 Final Paper

5

5-7

Topic: Program Evaluation and Sustainability

  • Read and Review:
    • Read Chapters 13 and 14
    • Read article: Monitoring the Plan
  • Read assigned chapters and article
  • Review the Lecture materials
  • Participate in the Discussions
  • Submit the Week 5 Final Paper
  • Complete Online Course Evaluation

COSC Accessibility Statement

Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.

COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources

Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.